In response to COVID-19 the Mono Lake Committee has changed our operations in accordance with public health recommendations to limit exposure and spread of the virus to staff, community members, and visitors.

Use the drop-down menus below to learn more. This page was last updated on May 23, 2020.

Bookstore

The Information Center & Bookstore is closed. Anyone arriving at the bookstore can call us at (760) 647-6595 for answers to any questions. A sign and map on the bookstore doors provide directions to the nearest public restrooms at the Shell Station and Hess Park.

Public programs

All public programs are canceled at least through May 31. This includes weekend South Tufa tours, visiting school group programs, presentations, field trips, special tours, and programs with the local schools. Summer programs that are scheduled to begin in June are being evaluated weekly.

Mono Lake Volunteer training: May 29–31
This training has been postponed until
2021. If you are a current volunteer with questions about the summer season, please email Claire Landowski.

Canoe tours are canceled for 2020. We made the difficult decision not to bring seasonal staff to Lee Vining for the summer. Without the Canoe Coordinator and Mono Lake Interns, we cannot run the canoe tour program. See more information here.

Office

The office is closed and all staff are working from home. There is no estimated reopening date for the office. We're answering the phone Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm—call (760) 647-6595. Each staff member is checking their voicemail daily, so you can dial the main number followed by a staff member's extension (listed at the right) to leave a message for them. You can also click on a staff member's name to the right to send them an email.

No seasonal staff this year. We made the difficult decision to not bring seasonal staff and interns to Lee Vining for the summer (more information here). With tight housing and office space, social distancing would be impossible. This does not mean we are canceling all summer programs; however, it does mean we must cancel the canoe tour program.

Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner: May 15
Canceled on April 8 due to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area's closure and Governor Newsom's stay-at-home order. If you have questions about this event, please email Lily Pastel.

Mono Lake Volunteer training: May 29–31As of April 14 this year's Mono Lake Volunteer training has been postponed until
2021. If you are a current volunteer with questions about the summer season, please email Claire Landowski.

Mono Basin Field Seminars: late May through mid-OctoberNEW: On May 23 we canceled all 2020 Mono Basin Field Seminars through the end of the year. If you have questions about the seminars, please email the Field Seminar team.

Tioga Pass Run: September 13
We have suspended registration and we will evaluate the
status of this event in early June. If you would like to receive updates about the run, please email Claire Landowski.

Recreation sites & campgrounds

We’re asking anyone who is not a primary resident of Eastern Sierra communities not to visit this region for the time being.

Please stay home, stay safe, stay healthy, and we'll see you here back at Mono Lake once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. We can't wait.

How to contact us

We're answering the phone Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm—call (760) 647-6595. Each staff member is also checking their voicemail daily, so you can dial the main number followed by a staff member's extension (below) to leave a message for them. You can also click on a staff member's name below to send them an email.